How Rancho Milagro Recovery Is Tackling The Addiction Crisis

This Patch article is sponsored by Rancho Milagro Recovery.

Rancho Milagro Recovery is a residential detox and recovery facility located outside of San Diego. From drug addiction treatment to alcohol addiction treatment programs, their team of gold standard recovery professionals use current, evidence-based recovery practices to carefully customize each individual’s needs.

Patch caught up with Judee Tompkins, founder of Rancho Milagro Recovery, to better understand their innovative approach to treatment for you or a loved one.

Patch: How does Rancho Milagro Recovery help recovery?

Tompkins: People often comment on our gorgeous grounds. We’re proud of them, but the ranch layout serves a distinct function: whether in our decorated private rooms, cozy community areas, or yard with vistas, we have carefully created an environment that inspires our guests to focus and take control of their lives in a way they haven’t before. We aim to do everything we can to make it easier to implement the structure and life skills necessary to deal with their addiction, starting with the environment. If someone is truly looking to rebuild and beat addiction, there is no better place.

Patch: How is Rancho Milagro Recovery different from other treatment facilities?

Tompkins: We combine state-of-the-art treatment with a facility unlike any other. Our team is the gold standard of recovery professionals, and they use current, evidence-based recovery practices carefully customized to each individual’s needs. We focus on lasting change, so we also include a community approach; chef-prepared meals, group therapy, shared entertainment, and more. An entire community is rooting for your success, and you feel it. It’s a comprehensive approach that seems to work well; our past alumni stay active on the Facebook group and often stop by to hang out around the campfire with us. I don’t know many facilities that can say that.

Patch: Why did you establish Rancho Milagro Recovery?

Tompkins: Like many people, I had a family history of addiction. I wanted to help people break out of the cycle of dealing with the disease of addiction, whether their own or someone else’s. The property Rancho Milagro Recovery has been in my family for many generations as a working cattle ranch; my kids were all raised here! It felt full circle to transform that into a drug and alcohol addiction recovery facility, and we all work here together. People tell us they can feel it: that we care in a different way.

Patch: Describe your treatment process.

Tompkins: We take a thorough treatment process that is rooted in the personal history that brought a client to this day. That way, we can customize their treatment to what will serve them best. For example, if they have experienced childhood or adult trauma, we may utilize CBT (cognitive behavior therapy) or psychodrama. We provide daily programming, with individual counseling and therapy groups as part of any treatment plan, overseen by a staff and therapist who are at the ready 24 hours a day.

In addition, where appropriate, Rancho Milagro Recovery is licensed for MAT services (Medication Assisted Treatment). The more clinical aspects of treatment are complemented by interesting activities like hikes, art therapy, equine therapy, and more. Our treatment matches the best-in-class recovery program with nurturing the whole person and treating them every day with the compassion we believe an addict deserves.

Patch: Tell us about all your animals!

Tompkins: We love animals here at Rancho Milagro Recovery! Our animals are all rescues: we have horses, cows, pigs, dogs, chickens, turkeys and a new one - an EMU! Animals are often incorporated into our daily programming, whether through equine therapy or with clients joining in the care taking on the ranch.

Patch: What are you most proud of with Rancho Milagro Recovery?

Tompkins: I’d say two things: there’s nothing like those visits from alumni to reaffirm that what we do has changed their lives. On the more technical side, I’m proud that we have earned our Joint Commission certification. The Joint Commission identifies organizations that successfully integrate and coordinate person-centered health care to improve quality of life for people with mental illness or behavioral health conditions. Getting their approval is challenging, and the process is notoriously rigorous, so many facilities don’t bother going after it. We sought their accreditation as part of Rancho Milagro’s commitment to deliver the highest standard of care for recovery patients. The JC’s assessment was that our multi-bed residential drug and alcohol abuse recovery facility has an unwavering commitment to patient care.

Patch: What's the most satisfying part of your job?

Tompkins: Watching the individual experiences. We are by our clients’ sides as they go through this transformation, with all the ups and downs and daily challenges. But then you get to be part of their success as well. Just the other day I got a call from a past client thanking me for what we did to help them, reminding me how many days sober they were and telling me all about the new job they had just gotten. Life developments they couldn’t have believed were possible when they first walked into our doors. The process is so intimate with each patient. Being witness to their new lives as they turn the page is simply amazing.

Patch: How can we find out more about your addiction services?

Tompkins: I always encourage people to come join us for a private tour, so they can see it for themselves. You can schedule an appointment by calling 951-526-3227 or by emailing us. You can also visit our website.

If you or a friend are looking for addiction help, feel free to reach out to us and we will be more than happy to speak with you.

Rancho Milagro Recovery is in-network with a number of insurance providers. Please call for information.